Cristom Vineyards
Encyclopedia
Cristom Vineyards is an Oregon wine
producer and vineyard
based near Salem
, U.S. It is in the Eola-Amity Hills
wine region within the Willamette Valley AVA
, about 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Keizer
.
and its importance in Burgundy. He visited Oregon in 1991 for the International Pinot Noir Celebration
and decided that it would be an ideal location. Mike Etzel, the owner of Beaux Frères, also in the Willamette Valley, was hired as a consultant to look for an appropriate location.
In 1992, Paul and Eileen Gerrie purchased the abandoned Pellier Winery site in the Spring Valley
region of Polk County
and established Cristom Vineyards. The existing vineyards were in a state of disrepair and all but one of them needed to be replanted. The first vintage was produced in 1992 from grapes purchased from other local vineyards. The vineyards were replanted from 1993 to 1996. with the first vintage from the estate owned vineyards bottled in 1994.
Cristom's current winemaker is Steve Doerner, who joined the winery as head winemaker for its first vintage. Doerner graduated in 1978 from the University of California, Davis with a degree in biochemistry and had spent 14 years at the Californian Calera Wine Company, specializing in working with Pinot noir
, as well as studying under Jacques Seysses, owner and winemaker at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy before being appointed winemaker at Cristom in 1992. Doerner was the first established winemaker from the California wine industry to move to Oregon, and has been followed by many others since. After having established himself as winemaker at Cristom, Doerner was made a partner in the business.
The estate is named after Paul and Eileen Gerrie's children, being a portmanteau of Christine and Tom.
Marjorie is the only vineyard that was not replanted in the years following the purchase of the winery. It is named after Paul Gerrie's mother. The vines were originally planted in 1982, and there are 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) of Pinot noir. The initial single vineyard wine from this location was from the 1994 vintage.
Louise is named after Paul Gerrie's maternal grandmother and was the first vineyard to finish being replanted with 9 acres (3.6 ha) of Pinot noir. The first single vineyard wine was the 1996 vintage.
Jessie is named for Paul Gerrie's paternal grandmother and was planted with 11.5 acres (4.7 ha) of Pinot noir in 1994. The first release was the 1998 vintage.
Eileen, is named after Paul Gerrie's wife, the co-founder and co-owner of the estate. This is the highest elevation Cristom vineyard which slopes from 550 to 700 ft (167.6 to 213.4 m). 16 acres (6.5 ha) of Pinot noir were planted in 1997 in this vineyard. The first vintage released was in 2000.
Emilia, is named after Eileen Gerrie's mother. This is the lowest elevation Cristom vineyard at 200 to 250 ft (61 to 76.2 m), and it surrounds the winery and cellar door. This vineyard consists of 5 acres (2 ha) of Pinot Gris
planted between 1993 and 1996.
Germaine is named after the winemaker, Steve Doerner's, maternal grandmother. It was planted in 1993 with 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) of Dijon 75 and 95 clone Chardonnay
vines.
Two other vineyards are planted at the estate with Northern Rhone varieties that are unusual for the Willamette Valley region which is primarily known for Pinot noir. These are a 1 acre (0.404686 ha) Viognier
vineyard planted in 1993 and a 2.5 acres (1 ha) Syrah vineyard planted in 2002. Cristom is described as a pioneer of these varieties in this region.
Cristom also produces two Pinot noir blends, the Mount Jefferson
Cuvee named after a mountain visible from the winery, and a Reserve
wine named Sommers since the 2004 vintage. These two blends have been produced every vintage since 1992. The Mount Jefferson Cuvee is a blend from ten different vineyards, with the best barrels of the blend being separated to be bottled as the Sommers Reserve wine. Around 3,500 cases of the Mount Jefferson and 1,250 cases of the "Sommers" Reserve are produced each year.
In addition to Pinot noir, Cristom also produces a Syrah based red wine from the estate vineyard.
White wines are produced from three varieties: a single vineyard Chardonnay from the estate Germaine vineyard as well as Pinot gris and Viognier.
Around 10,000 cases of wine are produced each vintage, with about 1,500 of that total being white wines.
Oregon wine
The state of Oregon in the United States has established an international reputation for its production of wine. Oregon has several different growing regions within the state's borders which are well-suited to the cultivation of grapes; additional regions straddle the border between Oregon and the...
producer and vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
based near Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, U.S. It is in the Eola-Amity Hills
Eola-Amity Hills AVA
The Eola-Amity Hills AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in Polk County and Yamhill County, Oregon. It is entirely contained within the Willamette Valley AVA, and stretches from the city of Amity in the north to Salem in the south. The Eola and Amity hills cover an area west of the...
wine region within the Willamette Valley AVA
Willamette Valley AVA
The Willamette Valley AVA , is an American Viticultural Area which lies in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The AVA is the wine growing region which encompasses the drainage basin of the Willamette River...
, about 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Keizer
Keizer, Oregon
Keizer is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States, along the 45th parallel. It was named for Thomas Dove and John Brooks Keizer, two pioneers who arrived in the Wagon Train of 1843, and later filed donation land claims. The population was 36,278 at the 2010 census...
.
History
Paul Gerrie, an engineer based in Pittsburgh, was searching for suitable land in North and South America to open a winery. Trips to France to pursue his passion for wine had exposed him to the French concept of terroirTerroir
Terroir comes from the word terre "land". It was originally a French term in wine, coffee and tea used to denote the special characteristics that the geography, geology and climate of a certain place bestowed upon particular varieties...
and its importance in Burgundy. He visited Oregon in 1991 for the International Pinot Noir Celebration
International Pinot Noir Celebration
The International Pinot Noir Celebration , founded in 1987, is an Oregon wine event held annually at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. The event features Pinot noirs from around the globe including Burgundy and the Willamette Valley. The IPNC is not-for-profit and aims to promote...
and decided that it would be an ideal location. Mike Etzel, the owner of Beaux Frères, also in the Willamette Valley, was hired as a consultant to look for an appropriate location.
In 1992, Paul and Eileen Gerrie purchased the abandoned Pellier Winery site in the Spring Valley
Spring Valley (Oregon)
Spring Valley is a valley in Polk County, Oregon, United States, situated north and east of the Eola Hills and west of the Willamette River. It corresponds roughly to the drainage of Spring Valley Creek. Populated places in Spring Valley include Zena and Lincoln...
region of Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
and established Cristom Vineyards. The existing vineyards were in a state of disrepair and all but one of them needed to be replanted. The first vintage was produced in 1992 from grapes purchased from other local vineyards. The vineyards were replanted from 1993 to 1996. with the first vintage from the estate owned vineyards bottled in 1994.
Cristom's current winemaker is Steve Doerner, who joined the winery as head winemaker for its first vintage. Doerner graduated in 1978 from the University of California, Davis with a degree in biochemistry and had spent 14 years at the Californian Calera Wine Company, specializing in working with Pinot noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
, as well as studying under Jacques Seysses, owner and winemaker at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy before being appointed winemaker at Cristom in 1992. Doerner was the first established winemaker from the California wine industry to move to Oregon, and has been followed by many others since. After having established himself as winemaker at Cristom, Doerner was made a partner in the business.
The estate is named after Paul and Eileen Gerrie's children, being a portmanteau of Christine and Tom.
Vineyards
Cristom has eight estate owned vineyards, with an area of 65 hectares (160.6 acre). Six of the vineyards are named after family matriarchs.Marjorie is the only vineyard that was not replanted in the years following the purchase of the winery. It is named after Paul Gerrie's mother. The vines were originally planted in 1982, and there are 8.5 acres (3.4 ha) of Pinot noir. The initial single vineyard wine from this location was from the 1994 vintage.
Louise is named after Paul Gerrie's maternal grandmother and was the first vineyard to finish being replanted with 9 acres (3.6 ha) of Pinot noir. The first single vineyard wine was the 1996 vintage.
Jessie is named for Paul Gerrie's paternal grandmother and was planted with 11.5 acres (4.7 ha) of Pinot noir in 1994. The first release was the 1998 vintage.
Eileen, is named after Paul Gerrie's wife, the co-founder and co-owner of the estate. This is the highest elevation Cristom vineyard which slopes from 550 to 700 ft (167.6 to 213.4 m). 16 acres (6.5 ha) of Pinot noir were planted in 1997 in this vineyard. The first vintage released was in 2000.
Emilia, is named after Eileen Gerrie's mother. This is the lowest elevation Cristom vineyard at 200 to 250 ft (61 to 76.2 m), and it surrounds the winery and cellar door. This vineyard consists of 5 acres (2 ha) of Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris
Pinot gris is a white wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. Thought to be a mutant clone of the Pinot noir grape, it normally has a grayish-blue fruit, accounting for its name but the grape can have a brownish pink to black and even white appearance...
planted between 1993 and 1996.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
vines.
Two other vineyards are planted at the estate with Northern Rhone varieties that are unusual for the Willamette Valley region which is primarily known for Pinot noir. These are a 1 acre (0.404686 ha) Viognier
Viognier
Viognier is a white wine grape. It is the only permitted grape for the French wine Condrieu in the Rhone valley.-History:The origin of the Viognier grape is unknown. Viognier is presumed to be an ancient grape, possibly originating in Dalmatia and then brought to Rhône by the Romans. One legend...
vineyard planted in 1993 and a 2.5 acres (1 ha) Syrah vineyard planted in 2002. Cristom is described as a pioneer of these varieties in this region.
Wines
Cristom is best known for its Pinot noir based wines. Four single vineyard wines are produced with Pinot noir grapes from the vineyards Marjorie, Louise, Jessie and Eileen.Cristom also produces two Pinot noir blends, the Mount Jefferson
Mount Jefferson (Oregon)
Mount Jefferson is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc, part of the Cascade Range, and is the second highest mountain in Oregon. Situated in the far northeastern corner of Linn County on the Jefferson County line, about east of Corvallis, Mount Jefferson is in a rugged wilderness and is...
Cuvee named after a mountain visible from the winery, and a Reserve
Reserve wine
Reserve wine is a term given to a specific wine to imply that is of a higher quality than usual, or a wine that has been aged before being sold, or both. Traditionally winemakers would "reserve" some of their best wine rather than sell it immediately, coining the term.In some countries the use of...
wine named Sommers since the 2004 vintage. These two blends have been produced every vintage since 1992. The Mount Jefferson Cuvee is a blend from ten different vineyards, with the best barrels of the blend being separated to be bottled as the Sommers Reserve wine. Around 3,500 cases of the Mount Jefferson and 1,250 cases of the "Sommers" Reserve are produced each year.
In addition to Pinot noir, Cristom also produces a Syrah based red wine from the estate vineyard.
White wines are produced from three varieties: a single vineyard Chardonnay from the estate Germaine vineyard as well as Pinot gris and Viognier.
Around 10,000 cases of wine are produced each vintage, with about 1,500 of that total being white wines.